Anti-swelling and Mechanically Robust Composite Hydrogels in Aquatic Environments

Ze-Hang Du; Qing-Hua Wang; An-Qi Xiao; Piao-Piao Zhou; Xiao-Lin Lyu; Zhi-Gang Zou

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3572-2

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Anti-swelling and Mechanically Robust Composite Hydrogels in Aquatic Environments

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-03-26

- Anti-swelling and Mechanically Robust Composite Hydrogels in Aquatic Environments
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 4, Pages: 1027-1034(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Technologies, International (HongKong Macao and Taiwan) Joint Laboratory on Advanced Materials Technologies, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
  b.Chongqing Water & Environment Holdings Group, Ltd., Chongqing 401120, China
  c.Department of Lung Transplantation, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
  d.Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, China
  e.Eco-materials and Renewable Energy Research Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Author bio：
  
  zhoupiaopiao@fjmu.edu.cn (P.P.Z.)
  lyuxiaolin@fzu.edu.cn (X.L.L.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3572-2
  CLC：
- Received：30 December 2025，
  
  Accepted：12 January 2026，
  
  Online First：05 March 2026，
  
  Published：05 April 2026
- Accepted：
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Du, Z. H.; Wang, Q. H.; Xiao, A. Q.; Zhou, P. P.; Lyu, X. L.; Zou, Z. G. Anti-swelling and mechanically robust composite hydrogels in aquatic environments. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1027–1034

Ze-Hang Du, Qing-Hua Wang, An-Qi Xiao, et al. Anti-swelling and Mechanically Robust Composite Hydrogels in Aquatic Environments[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(4): 1027-1034.
Du, Z. H.; Wang, Q. H.; Xiao, A. Q.; Zhou, P. P.; Lyu, X. L.; Zou, Z. G. Anti-swelling and mechanically robust composite hydrogels in aquatic environments. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1027–1034 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3572-2.

Ze-Hang Du, Qing-Hua Wang, An-Qi Xiao, et al. Anti-swelling and Mechanically Robust Composite Hydrogels in Aquatic Environments[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(4): 1027-1034. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3572-2.

摘要

Aramid nanofibers are used to enhance the anti-swelling and mechanical properties of hydrogels.

Abstract

Hydrogels are widely employed in various cutting-edge fields due to their excellent flexibility and tunability. However

hydrogels undergo significant swelling when immersed in seawater or other ionic solutions

leading to a severe decline in their performance. Herein

we develop a composite hydrogel (PAH) with anti-swelling capability in different solution environments

constructed through hydrogen bonding interactions between rigid aramid nanofibers (ANF) and flexible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The dense three-dimensional skeleton within PAH not only dissipates energy to enhance its strength and toughness but also effectively inhibits water molecule penetration. Even after immersion in different ionic solutions

PAH maintains its structural integrity (equilibrium swelling ratio of only 0.1%)

while retaining excellent mechanical properties. This work provides a simple and effective strategy for improving the anti-swelling ability of hydrogels in different solutions

offering insights for broadening the application scope of hydrogels.

关键词

Keywords

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